Idaea biselata

• Subfamily: Sterrhinae, Sterrhini
• Wingspan: 18-24 mm
• Flight period: Jun - Aug
• Spread: Common
• Host plants: Polyphagous

Information

The Idaea biselata also called The Small Fan-footed Wave is a moth of the Geometridae family, subfamily Sterrhinae, with a wingspan of 18-24 mm.
It is distributed in almost all of Europe and is absent from Croatia and southern European Russia, in Italy it is absent from the islands. *
Its range extends also from the Caucasus to the Russian Far East.

The wings of Idaea biselata are creamy white with darker bands and with a small black disc spot on each wing. The basic coloring and pattern vary relatively little. Elements of the motif range from brown to dark brown.
On the front wings the internal transverse line is the one most clearly shown. However, the external transverse line which is usually significantly developed can to be it lightly marked. A pale wavy line that is coated with a darker inner and outer color is found in the marginal field. The marginal spots are dark brown, but little developed.

The hind wings have the same color and design as the front ones Head, thorax and abdomen are in the background color of the wings.

Moth normally univoltine the adult of this species flies mainly at night from June to August, in some cases it can be bivoltine, *** is attracted to artificial light.
It frequents mixed woods, gardens, scrubs and parks, from the basal level up to about 1700 m of altitude.

The eggs are ovoid, pinkish white, opaque and knurled, with large reddish spots. **

The larva is polyphagous and feeds on many plant species such as Asteraceae, Betulaceae, Campanulaceae, Caprifoliaceae, Fabaceae, Malvaceae, Plantaginaceae, Polygonaceae and Rosaceae.


* Lepidoptera mundi https://lepidoptera.eu/ - Fauna Europea https://fauna-eu.org/
** Bestimmungshilfe für die in Europa nachgewiesenen Schmetterlingsarten - http://lepiforum.de/
*** Roland Robineau, Guide de papillons nocturne de France, Delachaux et Niestlé, 2011 p.40